Sprinkler.



L. SHAW.

SPRINKLER.

APPLICATIONYHLEU AUG. 18. 1915.

Y mamsm Patented Sept. '4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. SHAW.

SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1915.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

SPir; 1

aeeaegao.

I To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD SHAW, a cltizen of the United States of America, and a resldent of Miami, county of Dade,

and State of Florida, have invented certain vnew and useful Improvements in Sprink lers, ofwhich the following is a specificat1on.

' This invention relates to sprinklers and particularly to the kind which is designed mainly for irr1 ation purposes and for the prevention of rost.

The main objects of the invention are to simplify and improve the construction of sprinklers whereby their efficiency is increased, leakage is avoided between the rotary and stationary parts of the sprinkler, and mechanical friction is eliminated between the rotary and stationary parts, and to'provide certain improvements in sprinkling devices of the velocity type such as is described and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 863,290, filed September 24, 191i.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of a sprinkler constructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.

F ig. 3 shows in elevation an attachment for producing a fine-spray, and which may be substituted. for the rotary element of the sprinkler shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 shows in detail a modification 9f one of the deflecting cones appearlng 1n Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a modification of the sprinkler.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section showlng another modification.

sprinkling devices as now commonly madehave a rotary nozzle member in which the passages are so formed as to give rise fifowing therethrough and this causes leakage at the bearing between the rotary and stationary parts of the sprinkler. In such pressure operated sprinklers there is also more or less loss, due to mechanical friction at the bearings.

' llihe present device is so proportioned as to eliminate the possibility of any appreciable static pressure occurring in the rotary nozzle member thereofg. and is also arranged Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 41, 191?.

Application filed August 18, 1915. Serial No. 46,182.

to support the rotarymember in frictionless relation to the supporting or stationary member of the nozzle.

Fig. 1 of the drawings shows a form of the sprinkler which comprises a rigid supporting member 1, threaded at 2 for connection with a supply pipe and properly tapered at 3 toward its outlet 4 to form a nozzle for producing a vertical jet of considerable velocity. The member 1 also supports a pipe 5 communicating therewith and suitably bent as shown in Fig. 1 to direct a jet of water downwardly in the axial line of the outlet 4 of the member 1. The pipe 5 at its outlet end is provided with a nozzle 6 having a reduced aperture 7 for the purpose of increasing the automatic balance of thenozzle member 8.

The rotary nozzle. member 8 has a bell shaped mouth 9 at its lower end near the outlet 41 of nozzle member 1, and at its upper end is provided with a conical spray deflector 10, the tip of which enters theenlarged opening 11 in the end of nozzle 6. The rotary member 8 comprises two or more tubular arms 12 and 13 meeting at their lower ends and curving upwardly and outwardly. The inlet of arm 12 is in the axial line of the outlet 4 of the member 1 in order that a major portion of the stream at maximum velocity may issue from nozzle 14, while a minor portion of the stream passes through the arm 13 and is projected to a less distance. Inserted in the ends of the tubular arms 12 and 13 are tapered tips 14 and 15, which are slightly bent and beveled at their ends to produce rotation of the member 8 by the reaction of the streams leaving tips 14 and 15.

The member 1 is also provided with a tubular screen 16 arranged to screen only that water which enters the pipe 5. This screen has open ends and may be a vertically slotted cylinder or consist solely of vertical wires supported by the rings '17 and 18, being thus self-cleaning. The purpose this more rapid drop of pressure.

rotary member 8 is in axial alinement with the nozzle member 4 and the arms 12 and 13 of the latter gradually curve away from such axial linef Therefore, the jet issuing from nozzle 4: has a practically free path through the rotary member 8. Being only slightly deflected from its normal course, it therefore leaves the latter without giving rise to back pressure in the lower part of the rotary member 8. The design of the passages may be such that the siphonic action of the stream passin through the member 8 will cause a slight flow of air upwardly into the member 8 around the nozzle 4 and prevent any leaka e at this point. The impact of the stream rom nozzle 4 and the frictional action of the water on the member 8 causes the same to be lifted clear of the nozzle 4 and to rotate without mechanical friction between the bell mouth 9 and the nozzle 4:. The weight of the member 8 and the action of the downwardly directed' stream from the nozzle 6, also prevents contact between the cone 10 and nozzle 6. The cone member 10 serves to deflect and spread thestream from nozzle 6 to form a spray, and the heavier streams from the nozzle tips 14; and 15 are thrown to greater and dliferent distances.

It may be readily seen that if the cone 10 is raised to completely close theopening 11, the pressure would build up over the entire area of the opening, equal to thatin pipe 5, but as soon as the cone 10 is slightly lowered to allow the escape of water, the pressure drops rapidly until a balance is reached, the restricted opening 7 causing Considering the other extreme condition, when the cone 10 is low enough to permit practically a full opening at the opening 11, it is evident that the downward pressure on the cone would be-equal only to the pressure, in velocity head, over area 7. It is readily seen that there is an automatic regulation of the cone 10 due to the varying conditions of pressure in the opening 11 for. the various positions of the cone.

The attachment shown in Fig. 3 consists of a pair of cone members 36 and 37 similar to the cone 10 but having threaded engagement with a sleeve 38 whereby the cones may be adjusted toward or away from the nozzles 6 and 4:. This attachment is intended to be substituted for the member 8 when the device is used for producin a fine spray or mist such as is desirable fir seed beds, etc., or for the prevention of frost. The path of the spray is approximately that indicated by the arrows, the two oppositely disposed conical streams meeting and being thus broken up into a finely divided scattering spray. It is intended that these cones be varied in form as indicated in Fig. 4 to suit different requirements.

Fig. 5 shows a modified arrangement comprising a conical stationary nozzle member 19 and a rotary nozzle member 20 having upwardly and outwardly curved passages 21 and vertical passage 22. The rotary member is provided with an=apron or skirt 23 which surrounds nozzle 19, and helps to keep the rotary nozzle from being accidentally displaced. The nozzle 19 is supplied by a pipe 24 which has a spider 25 supporting a rod 26 extending upwardly through the vertical passage 22 and carrying at its upper end a curved deflector 27.

In the operation of this device the member 23 is rotated through the reaction of streams leaving the passages 20 and 21, being lifted from the nozzle 20 by the impact of the stream leaving nozzle 19. The jet which issues from the vertical passage 22' strikes the concave surfaces 28 of the'deflector 27 and is turned downwardly as'indicated by the arrows, striking the curved annular depression 29 on the upper surface of the rotary nozzle member 20, and issuing therefrom in the form of a spreading umbrella-shaped spray. The reaction of this jet on the rotary member 20 assists in balancing the same between the nozzle 19 and the deflector 27 Thus, this device is also devoid of mechanical friction between the stationary and rotary members thereof.

Fig. 6 shows a further modification of the device shown in Fig. 5, differing mainly in the arrangement of the stationary conical deflector 30 on rod 31 and the flared conical outlet aperture 32 in the rotary member;

Otherwise the operation and support 33. of the rotary member 33 are similar to those of the arrangements shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Although several modifications are shown, no attempt has been herein made to illustrate all possible embodiments of the invention, and it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departin from the spirit of this invention as define by the following claims.

1. A sprinkler, comprising a nozzle member having two opposed outlets, and a spraying device located between said outlets for deflecting the fluid streams issuing therefrom, and being suitably shaped to be rotated through the impact of one of said fluid streams.

2. In a sprinkler, a movable spray member and a stationary member for delivering water thereto, said members having surfaces located to coact with such water to produce upward and downward reactions on said movable spray member whereby the latter will be balanced and supported out of contact with said stationary member.

3. In a sprinkler, a stationary member arranged to' deliver a vertically directed jet aasaaeo and a movable spray member adapted to be poised on said jet, said members having suraces coacting with the jet to produce upward and downward reactions whereby said movable member will be supported out of contact with. said stationary member.

4. A sprinkler comprising a pair of opposed stationary nozzles, a rotary nozzle member between and in axial alinement with said stationary nozzles, said rotary nozzle member beingsupported, balanced and rotated by the jets from said stationary nozzles.

5. A sprinklercomprising a rotary nozzle member, and a stationary nozzle member constructed to project fluid streams against Y oppositesurfaces ofgaid rotary. member for supporting, balancin and rotating the latter.

6. A sprinkler comprising a stationary C part havingia contracted jetorifice' at the top andhaving 'a branch outlet at one side, a pipe extending. upward from said branch having a downwardly directed e,1a spray member'between v aascreen forsaid branch orifice, said screerifcoinprising a grating formed of elements disposed only in the direction of flow toward'lthe first said jet orifices" whereby said] screen will be kept clean by the stream flowing toward said first prising a nozzle member having opposed 1A device of the class described, comoutlets, and a rotary Y member located between said'outlets, and having a surtace arranged to be,v engaged by a fluid "stream from one of said; outlets and adapted to cause rotation ofsaid rotary member by the actiond.

' inggabranch outlet atone side, a pipe extending.upward1y'fiom-said branch outlet thereon'of said fluid stream.

8. A device of? the class described, com- I nozzle members and so deflect such fluid stream as to cause rotation of said rotary and in alinement with the through arranged to gradua y deflect a fluid greater than the area of the outlet of said spray member between said'orifices. I

Signed atfh'liami 6th day of August,

. ber having a passage therethrough adapted to receive a fluid stream from one of said member.

10. A device of the class described, comprising a nozzle member having a plurality of opposed outlets, and a rotary member located between said outlets, said rotary member having a plurality of passages therethrough adapted to receive a fluid stream from one of said nozzle members and so deflect such fluid stream" as to cause rotation of said rotary member,

11. A device of'the class described, comprising a rotary spray device havin a plurality of curved passages theret rough, whereby said spray device may be rotated by a fluid stream passing therethrough, and means for projecting fluid streams against opposite surfaces of said spray device, whereby the same may be supported out of contact with said means.

12. A device 'of the class described, comprising a nozzle member, and a spray device located in alinement with said nozzle member and having curved assages therestream in diametrically opposite directions from said nozzle member, said passages hav inga combined cross-sectional area which is Y I nozzle membe r. 1

13. A sprinkler comprising a stationary part havingajet orifice at the top and'havand having a downwardly'directed jet orifice intoan enlarged outer portion, and a rotary 1915. c c e v g neman snaw. 

